Military and Monkey Orchis, Antique British Orchid Print, Pratt, circa 1873

This is an original antique botanical plate of four British orchids, Plate 215 from Volume V of Anne Pratt's The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain, printed in color for Frederick Warne and Co. of London, circa 1873. The caption names the Military Orchis, Monkey Orchis, Lax Flowered Orchis and Marsh Orchis.

The military orchis stands at the left, its spike of pale pink flowers spotted with deeper pink. Beside it and lower down, the monkey orchis is drawn almost white, with deep purple centers to the flowers and narrow, curling lobes to the lips. The lax flowered orchis rises tallest at the center on a purplish stem, with large, loosely spaced flowers in strong rose pink, and the marsh orchis at the right carries a denser spike of pink flowers with spotted lips and green centers. Long, ribbed, strap shaped leaves sheathe all four stems, and a brownish tuber with its roots is set at the lower right. Each plant carries a printed number keyed to the caption, which gives the English and Latin names.

The plates come from The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain, published in London by Frederick Warne and Co. of Bedford Street, Covent Garden, and carrying the name of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Anne Pratt, 1806 to 1893, wrote the text and drew the plants herself. The work runs to six volumes, and the title page of Volume V, from which this sheet comes, records 237 species in color and names Scribner, Welford and Armstrong as the New York house. The plates were printed in color by William Dickes of London, a licensee of George Baxter's color process.

Even age toning. Light handling soiling along the edges. A few small foxing spots and greenish specks in the margins. A small circular ring stain in the lower right margin. Slight wear and small nicks at the lower right corner.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.